What if you could control what your future looks like after your divorce? What do you want your life to look like post-divorce?
While the Collaborative Divorce process doesn’t give you the power to control the future, it does give you control over the direction of your post-divorce life.
In a traditionally litigated divorce, your decision-making power is given to a stranger in a robe. You go to court where a judge decides your future for you. In most cases, the judge does not know who you are or your family history. They don’t know any of your needs or what you hope for your post-divorce life. The judge knows the law and they will decide the issues in your divorce according to the law, what is presented to them that day in court, and how each party and the witnesses come across in that moment in time.
The Collaborative Divorce process gives you freedom to openly discuss the issues with your spouse in a safe environment.
Instead of being adversaries, (like in a traditional divorce) you are co-participants in your divorce. These joint meetings give you the opportunity to plan for two separate households post-divorce. You and your spouse have the time to consider all the various options for how to resolve your particular issues and concerns.
One of the benefits of Collaborative Divorce is the team of professionals that advise you throughout the process. You each have your own attorney to focus on the legal aspects. A neutral financial professional works with you on financial matters and creating post-divorce budgets. A neutral mental health professional is involved to help you both with communication and keeping the group focused on the goals that you and your spouse have for the divorce. The neutrals’ expertise is a big advantage versus having the attorneys try to do everything and typically there is a substantial costs savings. Although not every Collaborative Divorce has to utitlize these neutral professionals, you and your spouse discuss with your attorneys, which neutrals, if any, would benefit your case the most depending on your circumstances.
The Collaborative Divorce process focuses on generating options based on goals and interests you and your spouse have created, in order for you to both consider and determine how those options meet the interests of the whole family, not just one party. Collaborative Divorce opens up many more opportunities to be creative and explore various options for your future and your family’s future post-divorce.
We offer strong advocacy and protection of marital rights and are ready to help prepare you for the future. To schedule an appointment with attorney Mary Jones, call 512-474-4400
